Since I receive so many emails from beginning freelance writers about what different words mean in the freelance writing industry, here’s my brief attempt at a glossary of freelance writing terms:
#10 Envelope: This is a standard business sized envelope (not the small letter size). Many publications state they will send writer’s guidelines in exchange for a self-addressed stamped #10 envelope.
Advance: An amount of money a writer is paid by a publisher previous to the manuscript’s publication, coming out of projected royalty earnings, usually made to assist the writer in funding of the project.
All Rights: The publication is buying exclusive rights to a piece of writing in exchange for paying the writer a one-time lump sum fee. The writer will not be able to re-sell or re-publish the work in the future. Usually, the author will not receive a byline or royalties. Also referred to as “Flat Fee,” or “Work-for-hire.”
Assignment: An article or other written piece which an editor has assigned to a writer for an agreed upon price (often involves a contract).
Bio: A short summary about the writer, usually two or three sentences long, which may include previous publication credits or prior experience of the author, generally written by the writer him/herself and written in the third person.
Blog: Literally meaning “Weblog,” a blog is simply an online form of daily writing, like a journal or diary, and can be used for personal or business purposes. Many writers use blogs for free self-promotional and advertising purposes, which other “blogger” write specifically to generate revenue or sales for a specific company or type of product or service.
Byline: Usually just the name of the writer (i.e., “by Joe Smith”), not to be confused with a bio.
Clip: A previously published sample of a writers’ work (such as an article) that a freelance writer will send to editors as an example of his/her qualifications. Editors often ask for clips to be sent along with query letters.
Column: A section in a publication that regularly addresses a particular topic, usually in a newspaper or magazine, and often always written by the same person or group of contributors. However, some publications do have columns open to freelancers.
Columnist: Someone who regularly writes or contributes to a column.
Copyright: Legal protection on a written work, granting a writer rights that forbid anyone but the author (or persons designated by the author) to use, redistribute or otherwise copy the material.
Copywriter: A person hired to write advertising, marketing, publicity or website copy, usually without public recognition given to the writer.
Cover Letter: A brief (under one page) letter written to an editor or publication introducing or explaining an enclosed submission or manuscript.
Editor: The person in charge of publication decisions, often at a magazine or newspaper, and often only responsible for a single section of a publication. Most major publications have a head or chief editor as well as separate editors for each section or division of the publication.
Editorial: An article presenting the opinion of an editor or publisher.
Electronic Rights: The basic definition of “electronic rights” means granting an publication the right to publish an accepted piece of writing on their website. However, the exact definition for how long a publication asking for “electronic rights” is allowed to publish a piece online for varies from publication to publication and should be specified in a contract.
Electronic Submission: A piece of writing sent via email to an editor for publication consideration.
Ezine: Literally meaning “Electronic Magazine,” an ezine is simply an electronically distributed publication, usually in newsletter form, regularly sent to subscribers either via email or available to subscribers via a website. Many businesses and companies, as well as online publications and websites, use Ezines as an opt-in avenue for distributing new information, updates and advertisements, to keep visitors interesting and coming back to their businesses or websites and/or to purchase their products or services.
Feature: A human interest story or article.
First Rights: Refers to a publication accepting a piece of writing that has never been previously published, for which it will pay the writer for the rights to publish the piece for the first time, sometime for a set amount of time in the case of online publications. After this publication, rights revert back to the writer, meaning the writer may re-sell or re-publish the piece at a later time. Many publications request first rights. Also referred to as “first serial rights,” “first American serial rights,” or “first publication rights.”
Filler: Short item used to fill up space in a publication, usually a magazine or newspaper. Fillers are often in the form of a short list of tips or humorous anecdotes, a short news item or a piece of light verse, depending on the publication.
Freelance: On a contracted, agreed upon, or occasional basis, rather than as a full-time employee basis.
Freelancer: A person who works on a contracted or agreed upon basis, on a by the hour, by the day, or by the job basis, rather than as a full-time employee.
Ghostwriter: A person who writes articles, books or other material on behalf of another person. A ghostwriter receives no byline or public credit, but rather, the work is attributed to someone else (usually to the person who hires the ghostwriter).
Kill Fee: A percentage or set amount of money a publication will pay for a previously accepted article which it decides to cancel before publishing. A kill fee is usually stated in the publication’s contract agreement made with the writer upon accepting a piece.
Lead/Lede: A term that refers to the beginning of an article or news story, used to draw in and engage the reader.
Little/Literary: Low-paying or sometimes non-paying publications providing primarily short fiction writers and poets with a place to be published. Printed publications usually have very small circulations. Some operate exclusively on the internet.
Manuscript: The full text of a written work, usually submitted to an editor or publisher.
Masthead: The listing of publication information, including names and contact information of editors and staff members, in magazines and newspapers.
Multiple submissions: Sending more than one piece of writing for consideration to an editor or publication at one time.
On Spec: Writing an article based on an editors’ expressed interest in a writer’s work without the editor having yet made a commitment to pay for the written material.
One Time Rights: A publication purchases the rights to publish a piece once, after which time all rights revert back to the writer.
Pays On Acceptance: Writer receives payment at the time an editor or publication accepts the written work.
Pays On Publication: Writer receives payment at the time the accepted work is published.
Proofread: To thoroughly read through a manuscript and check for typing and grammar errors.
Query: The pitch of an idea for a proposed written piece, usually made to an editor or publisher by a writer.
Query Letter: The letter used to pitch or propose an idea for a written piece, usually sent to an editor or publisher by a writer.
Reprint: Writing that has been previously published (usually refers to articles).
Royalty: The percentage a publisher agrees to pay a writer per each sale of a written work, usually a book.
SASE: Self-addressed stamped envelope.
Simultaneous Submissions: Sending one piece of writing for consideration to more than one editor or publication.
Submission: A complete piece of writing sent to an editor or publication for consideration.
Tear Sheet: A copy of a previously published work, usually from a magazine. Also referred to as a “clip.”
Unsolicited Manuscript: A submission not requested by the editor or not previously queried by the writer.
Writing Sample: A sample of a writer’s written work, not necessary a piece which has been previously published (although it can be).
